This sleepy mama hopes to get a proper sleep one day. Taking one nap at a time.

Vaccinations – Health Center or Private?

At first, I couldn’t believe how expensive vaccinations are. Lowe was born in Qatar where everything was literally free, vaccinations included, so when I moved back here, my eyes went wide as saucers upon learning the prices of every single vaccine Lowe has to get prior to reaching his 1st year.

During his first pedia visit here, we shelled out almost Php 5000+ for two vaccines. Yes. TWO! 😳 Which was exactly my point.

So I searched for the cheapest source of vaccines or any hospitals having their “vaccination day”. Luckily, Alabang Medical Center has their vaccination day every Saturday and their vaccines are a fraction cheaper than the regular days’ price. I was ecstatic!

For the schedule of the vaccines themselves, I still follow the baby book from where I’ve given birth to Lowe. So far, the baby book from Hamad Hospital is the most comprehensive one than the ones here. Plus factor, it’s easily broken down to months, in tables and enumerated. For a first time mom like me, this is the best baby book. It’s practically spoon-fed information.

While I am already happy with the place Lowe gets his discounted vaccinations, my husband was still not satisfied. He wanted them for free. He informed me that government health centers for each barangays are giving out free vaccinations. I couldn’t believe it at first. So we went and inquired.

In every barangay, there’s a health center assigned to them and this is the only place you can register as you need to have a proof of address that you are living there, thankfully, my husband’s center was not crowded so by the time we inquired, they informed us that it’s okay for that day to have my son vaccinated with OPV1.

I was pleasantly surprised. A free vaccine and we just walked in, no waiting, no queue, no hassle!

However, the only con with the center is that not all vaccines are free, there are selected vaccines which are free whilst the others, you have to pay for a discounted price than what an average pedia will charge you.

Oh well, as long as we got some for free!

So, the verdict is: I will continue to take vaccines from the government centers and from private hospitals.

About Me

Jean is 34 year old mommy to one boy, Anwyll Lowe and a wife to a doting husband, William. Former flight attendant with Qatar Airways for 12 years, turned Stay At Home Mommy, hoping to find her own niche in the world.